The amazing, dynamic and vivacious Grace Jones immediately conquered the pop scene with the same prowress she posessed 2 decades ago. Her most recent album release was 1989's Bulletproof Heart, but this Fall the avant-diva will return to the spotlight like a Hurricane!

The buzz kicked into high gear last month when Jones' name appeared on the Massive Attack-curated Meltdown Festival lineup, alongside other Nasau artists Sly and Robbie... Her performance - which included 4 new songs off the upcoming record - wowed critics and sent fans into a frenzy. The following week, reports of Grace's brilliant and timeless art spread like a whirlwind. The Guardian gushed, "she is an ongoing performance art project…what resonates is not any one song, but Jones’ unparalleled presence" while the Telegraph sounded awed: "all around the gawping, whistling, cheering Festival Hall was the sense that this is how a star should be." She also played a sizzling performance at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen a few days after the Meltdown and she's headlining the Secret Garden Party Fest next month in Huntingdon, UK.

Finally, amongst rumours of a new video and new album on the way, Jones signed to Wall of Sound Records a few days ago, for the worldwide release and distro of Hurricane. The album's producer, Ivor Guest, says they've already finished recording Hurricane which includes input from Sly and Robbie (who Jones has worked with before), Brian Eno, Tricky, Tony Allen, Wally Badarou, Uzziah 'Sticky' Thompson, Mikey 'Mao' Chung, Barry Reynolds, John Justin, Martin Slattery, Philip Sheppard, Paulo Goude, Robert Logan and Don-E. The audience at the Meltdown festival went wild when her brand new video was previewed on the big screen. The song is "Corporate Cannibal," the video was directed by Nick Hooker and you can watch it right here:





It sure sounds like a star is present, no? I LOVE this video! I'm kind of in shock because it's been so long since she shared her art with us and now BLAM! and just like that, it's ON!


The super informative report on the Band Weblogs site included a statement from Wall of Sound's MD who also gushed his enthusiasm about Grace's sudden return:


Says Mark Jones, Managing Director of Wall of Sound - "It’s an absolute honour and privilege to be working with Grace. No one has inspired more people whatever race, sex, colour or creed to be who they want to be and so much more. Her new album will not only re-establish her as one of the world’s most important artists but also introduce her to a new generation of music lovers".


I was so excited about this news, that I really searched around the web for as much info as I could find. I was a HUGE fan of Grace Jones for most of my life this is such BIG news for me. So, here's more details:

The album will be released on October 27 in the UK and distributed worlwide by Wall of Sound's parent company, PIAS.

Hurricane Tracklist:

"Corporate Cannibal"
"The Key To Funky"
"Hurricane"
"Devil in My Life"
"This Is Life"
"Love You to Life"
"William's Blood"
"Keeping Up with the Jones"


Some of this info is from the wiki page for the album.

http://www.theworldofgracejones.com/

i'm so geeked for this album, i can't even express how excited i am.

i've heard two tracks so far, and they are ON POINT.

"corporate cannibal" is exactly the kind of song you want to hear from grace jones, and it's so refreshing for an artist to release a song that is so perfectly THEM, instead of striking out with some bullshit.

if the rest of the album is as iconic, i'm going to be happier than a pink piggy doing backstrokes in an olympic sized shitpool.

Anxiety said:

I'm with you. And that clip of her performing live recently looks like she can totally deliver the goods still. I missed her in the late 90's when she toured, but I won't make that mistake again.

What's the other track you've heard other than CC?

i heard "this is life".

if you do a google blog search, it's easily findable.

or so i've heard.

Anxiety said:

"What's it like....what's it like, anyway?"

(Neneh Cherry-ism)

kind of upbeat pop reggae-ish, very sly-and-robbie glory-days sounding. nothing earth shattering, but melodic and catchy as hell.

i can't wait.

Stymie said:

We're going to the show.

Wait, what show?

This may be one of those albums I've been waiting for my entire life.

This may be one of those albums I've been waiting for my entire life.

Only 8 tracks but the titles sound awesome. Promised myself I wouldn't be buying a lot but this one is definately one of the few I'll pick up. Maybe just this and the new AC/DC. Even if I have to go to Wal-Mart to get it....you think they'll be carrying Grace's album, too...doubt it!

VinnyM27 said:

um, i doubt walmart will be carrying it

if your resources are slim in your area, best to pre-order it from amazon.com...you'll likely have it at your door the day of or one day after its release date. they're really good about that usually.

Anxiety said:

I'm in Ann Arbor. Sadly, the only place indie place that carries new music is closed. My best beat would probably be Borders (I have 3 very close...after all, Ann Arbor is home base) but I also have a Best Buy and Circuit City nearby....doubtful that the album will get the kind of attention/promotional push that would warrant either one putting it in their ad and sort of making it guaranteed of being there. I hate Wal-Mart (last time I think I bought anything there was 3 years ago when that first "He Man" set hit DVD I had to have it at midnight) but I would like to hear what AC/DC is up to. I heard the new single and it was good. Also, apparently this one has 15 tracks. Granted, "Back In Black" was 8 (or 9) because it was a single LP and the tightness helped to have no filler on that classic, but since I got to go to that hell hole, I better get some more for it! I still haven't even heard "Corporate Cannibal"....what am I doing here talking about evil Wal-mart?

VinnyM27 said:

circuit city or beast buy might get the new grace in stock, and maybe borders. i'm often surprised with what some of these stores will carry.

Oh, thank god you are not overhyping us.



Chill, people. Even though the leaked songs ARE on point, I am not having the same hopes for the rest of the album. I never have, or I'd be dissappointed all the time.

But true, Corporate Cannibal sounds a 100% Ms Jones. Her going back to her succesful musical roots just shows she's a smart lady that knows what she's good at and what her adoring fans wants.

The Corporate Canibal video is amazing, the song itself is something that can still captivate me after a kazillion listens. This song did more to me than the last three Prince albums thrown in together. Seriously. (Meredith Grey-ism)

HamsterHuey said:

i'm with ya when you're right

I'm diggin' Corporate Cannibal.

So when the hell do we get the album?